January 2007 news Labour policy document backs in-house services Among a number of positive policies outlined in the new policy documnet passed by ’s rearranged conference in the windswept Specifically for members - new west coast port of Oban in November, media attention focussed on the initiatives for education staff, exclusion of soft Facilities Management (support services) from future action on assaults on public service PPP contracts and a presumption that in-house services will be the norm workers, long term funding for as current health contracts expire. community wardens and develop- ing the role of police staffs. The policy commitments include Careers staffs to be employed by many others of significance to local authorities, funding for the UNISON. UNISON and the other implementation of the 21st Century affiliated unions had championed Social Work plan and support for the ‘Workplace Agenda’ through- learning representatives in life long out the policy process that culmi- learning. nated in the debate and votes at conference. Support for members In addition to the measures protect- The key trade union issues in the ing NHS support staff there is sup- programme are highlighted in the jack McConnell at the launch of Delivering the workplace agenda. port for wider nursing roles and document Delivering on the measures to tackle drop out rates ice model as argued for in Workplace Agenda launched with of student nurses, reducing depend- UNISON’s Revitalise our Public First Minister, Jack McConnell ency on agency staff and ensuring Services manifesto. Attempts to MSP and Party Chair Hazel Blears that overseas nurses are not import the problems facing col- MP at the STULP reception. This exploited. Delivering on the leagues in England were soundly paper sets out 75 policy commit- Workplace Agenda can be viewed defeated. Instead we have a com- ments of particular relevance to at mitment to comprehensive educa- trade union members. http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/d tion, an integrated NHS, a public ocuments/Deliveringtheworkplacea water service and new roles for The main theme is continuation of genda.pdf Scotland’s distinctive public serv- local government. On the fringe UNISON was also active on the fringe at a joint meeting with Oxfam ‘Public not Private – How to End Global Poverty’. Sofi Taylor set out UNISON’s position on a platform with Oxfam and Douglas Alexander MP, (Secretary of State for Scotland).

Other fringe events included our popular ‘Revitalise the Scottish Labour Party’ meeting that gave delegates an opportunity to consider internal party reform with UNISON’s Dave Watson and Michael Meacher MP, Chair of the LABour Commission. Dave also set out UNISON Scotland’s energy strategy Douglas Alexander MP, Des McNulty MSP, Eilidh at a fringe meeting with Allan Wilson MSP. whiteford (Oxfam) and Sofi Taylor (UNISON) at the Public not Private fringe Tories threaten £21bn spending cuts New image - same old Tories When the Tory Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, George Osborne tax – would only benefit the MP put Lord Forsyth of Drumlean in charge of the Conservatives' tax wealthiest 6 per cent of estates. commission last October, he asked him to come back with a simpler, flat-  The transferable income ter tax system. tax allowance – only 3 per cent of the benefit would go to the poorest Eleven months later, the Scottish peer has returned with a package of 10 per cent of families, where 1.2 proposals in a 176 page report that would slash taxes by £21 billion and million couples - a third of them wreck public spending. pensioners - wouldn’t gain a penny because they earn less than the The report shows that the Tories of every new policy would be what allowance, have not changed; they remain it did for the least well-off in socie- committed to deep and savage cuts ty has been betrayed with this Poorer Families Hit in public services and tax cuts for report. the few and not the many. The combined effect of the new The scale of these tax cuts are so Black Hole higher income tax allowance, the abolition of the 10p starting rate, huge, they could only be paid for These cuts would leave a black by savage cuts in public spending, the new 20p basic rate, and abol- hole in the public finances. The ishing tax credits for hard working which will affect our schools, hos- Tories are playing fast and loose pitals and our police service. families higher up the income scale with the economy risking high would mean: interest rates and a return to the old  Only a third of the poorest instability of the past. quarter of households see any ben- efit at all – two-thirds wouldn’t The Tories have have learnt noth- gain a penny, whereas every single ing from the last two elections: household in the wealthiest quarter they are the same old Tories with benefits, and the richest households the same old policies - massive tax end up more than a thousand cuts for the rich, savage spending pounds a year better off; cuts for our public services.  The households who bene- Lord Forsyth of Drumlean. Yes - It’s him! fit least are one-parent families and pensioners living on their own, At the core of its critique is the whereas households who benefit inexorable rise in the tax burden, the most are couples with no kids. which absorbed 39 per cent of Whereas 92 per cent of couples national income a decade ago but with no kids benefit from these is predicted to hit 42.6 per cent proposals, less than half of one- next year. The impact on the aver- parent families and pensioners liv- age household has been stark — if ing on their own gain a penny.  tax revenues had remained at the Abolition of stamp duty on 1996 level in real terms, they shares – costing around £4 billion would be paying £5,140 a year less and doing nothing for millions of Tory leader David Cameron must hard working families. than at present. Analysis from the come clean and spell out what the  Abolition of R&D Tax and Labour Party shows that the impact of these spending cuts Film Credits – hitting manufactur- Tories’ planned tax cuts are not just would mean for schools, hospitals ing hard and devastating the British completely unaffordable without and public services across the UK. massive cuts to public spending, film industry. but completely unfair. The package of Tory proposals are unfair and hugely regressive: The Tory promise that the first test  The abolition of inheritance Liberal Democrat Local Income

Dave Watson, Labour Link Organiser explains why UNISON Tax? - No thanks! says No to Liberal Democrat plans for Local Income Tax. What is important with any tax is that it is fair, hard to avoid and simple to collect. Currently we have different types of tax, on earnings, property on spending, on busi- ness. Moving away from tax- ing property to taxing earning places more of the burden on hard working families, not on the wealthy.

Property-based taxes mean one bill per household, income taxes bill each person. The more workers in Sharing house would no longer be so attractive for yopung workers. Each individual will be your household - the more you pay. billes spearately. Two newly qualified teachers (£21588) and a newly registered nurse Any overtime you do will be taxed, (£16525) would be £594 worse off per year. (based on a local income tax of 3.75% cf the more you work the more you the average Council Tax of £1094) pay. Liberal Democrat claims that could pay nothing yet still expect often have less disposable income people will be better off under their bins emptied! Property is than people with no dependants local income taxes are based on impossible to hide or move abroad who own their property outright. assumption of single earner house- to tax shelters. holds. If couples both work they Improve the Council Tax risk being worse off. Property values are a The Council Tax banding system Local income tax doesn’t good proxy for wealth needs reform. The current system limits how much those with very make the rich pay more The value of your house is related to how well-off you are. It has to expensive properties have to pay. A The really rich can move their be bought or rented. Property is in £400k house pays three times as wealth to avoid paying their share. itself a form of wealth that you can much as a £40k house not ten Many rich families choose to live sell at a profit. You can even pass it times. abroad for long periods to avoid on after your death. paying income tax and many This is why it takes up a bigger landowners are in fact foreign Income is also only an indicator of proportion of lower incomes than nationals. They still pay council ability to pay. The cost of depend- higher – just like VAT – not tax on their UK homes. Under a ents like children and mortgages because it is a property tax. local income tax the super rich means that those on a higher salary Using your Vote Voting is the single most tunity to have your say. To be important thing you can do to eligible to vote in Scotland, make your voice heard in your name must be on the Scotland. By voting you’re help- Register of Electors. You can ing to decide who will make add your name to the Register decisions on the issues that throughout the year, up to the the Register or to register your affect you everyday. point when nominations for name, contact your local elections close. Electoral Registration Officer If you’re eligible to vote, make (http://www.votescotland.com/ sure you don’t miss the oppor- To find out if you're already on stv/82.html) Water privatisation - ‘costly mistake’ Research commissioned by research covers the regulation privatisaion would be a costly mis- UNISON and other water of Scottish Water, the various take in Scotland and highlights the unions from the Public factors that are tending pressures from the regulator and Research Network (PIRN) at towards privatisation and the others towards that. Equally impor- Strathclyde University was policy options ahead. tantly, the research shows that in the water industry, mutualisation is launched at the recent STUC simply privatision by the back The report sets out in detail why water conference. The door.

We need your help There are alternatives. A revitalised On Thursday 3 May 2007, all 129 Members of the are up public sector using models from for election for the third time since the Parliament was established by Labour. countries like Ireland and Sweden 73 MSPs are constituency based and the remaining 56 are elected by Single could keep water in public hands Transferable Vote on the Regional List system. The battleground for this elec- and have added advantage of cost- tion will be the future of public services in Scotland. ing customers significantly less. This ties in with internationalcam- Labour MSPs are working closely with UNISON on the union’s Make paigns against water privatisation. Council Tax Better campaign and our Revitalise Public Services campaign. First class, responsive and efficient public services are critical for Scotland. Our first priority is to ensure that Only Labour working closely with UNISON will continue to deliver the Scottish Water remains public. quality public services that UNISON members provide. Through Labour Link, the recent Scottish Labour Party conference The Scottish Parliament and the Local Government elections will be crucial confirmed this commitment. for all of us. Every helper makes a difference. Please encourage as many members as possible to volunteer to help. Scottish Organiser Dave Watson said: “Scottish Water should Contact Dave Watson or Kevin O’Neil ([email protected] or 0870 7777 remain publicly owned and 006) for details of how you can best support Labour’s campaign in Scotland. accountable. Although mutualisa- tion sounds attractive it only pro- Equally important is to ensure the message is understood in every workplace. vides a façade of democracy as the Labour Link materials have been mailed to members, but it is vital that every banks would control the organisa- member turns out to vote on Thursday 3 May 2007. The future of our public tion and all services would be pri- services is at stake. vatised.”  If you can spare some time to help with the campaigns, then please complete Next we want to develop a new the form below and send it to: public service model that strength- Kevin O’Neil, UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 ens democracy and addresses many 6RX or email [email protected] of the regulatory problems identi- fied in the report. A discussion Name …………………………………………………………………… document will be circulated and a range of meetings organised. UNISON Scotland Branch …………………………………………………… Constituency Labour Party Constituency Labour Party …………………………………………………… Affiliations 2007 Early in the New Year we will be Address ……………………………………………………………………… reviewing our affiliations and dele- gations to CLPs. Branch Labour ……………………………………………………………………………… Link Officers will be asked to review their local arrangements. ……………………………………………………………………………… Kevin O’Neil from the Policy and Telephone Number………………………………………………………… Information Team will be contact- ing all of the Branch Labour Link E-Mail Address ……………………………………………………………… Officers in the coming month. Printed by Hampden Advertising, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow G28QD, and published by UNISON Labour Link Scotland, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX